The former Brazilian president taken into custody after being declared a risk of fleeing

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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The former head of state was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in September and given more than over two decades in jail, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.

This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a demonstration that could enable a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

In a document approving the detention, the judge said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the protest called by his child.

His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a assembly of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The judicial paperwork highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that he be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to murder his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The plot was stopped because it didn't receive the endorsement of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his backers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, Brasília.

The police stepped in and around 1,500 people were detained.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from running for public office until twenty-sixty - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the next presidential race.

Kimberly Soto
Kimberly Soto

Lena Veldhuis is an urban culture enthusiast and freelance writer, passionate about street art and creative communities.

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